Abe to visit Middle East as planned after tensions ease

Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe will make a trip to the Middle East as planned, government officials said Thursday, as the United States has backed away from threats of further military action against Iran.The government had weighed the option of canceling the trip, which begins Saturday and will take Abe to Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates and Oman, following Iranian missile strikes early Wednesday against military bases in Iraq hosting U.S. troops.Hours after U.S. President Donald Trump denied any intention to respond to the strikes militarily, Abe expressed support Thursday for …READ FULL ARTICLE